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16 March 2004 Online: www.thisisthenortheast.co.ukThe E-Class Estatefrom £27,380.Space everywhere,except in your wallet.motoringMercedes’ new estate: a blend of ultra-modern with traditionalGet a load of this!With the Easy-Pack intelligent loading system † , the E-Class Estatemakes the best use of its 1910 litre load space. There are extra storagesolutions behind the rear seats, in the boot and even under the floor.If only finding spaces could be this easy when you’re trying to park.Car shown is the E200K Avantgarde Estate at £29,980. For moredetails, or to book a test drive, call us today.Rycroft StocktonConcorde Way, Yarm Road, Stockton on Tees, TS18 3RBTel: 01642 677 877 Fax: 01642 675 800www.rycroft.co.ukOFFICIAL GOVERNMENT FUEL CONSUMPTION FIGURES (MPG/LITRES PER 100KM) FOR E-CLASS ESTATE RANGE: URBAN 17.7-29.4/9.6-16.0, EXTRA URBAN 34.0-53.3/5.3-8.3,COMBINED 25.5-40.9/6.9-11.1. CO2 EMISSIONS 183-266 G/KM.† AVAILABLE AS AN OPTION FROM £60. ON THE ROAD PRICE OF MODEL SHOWN INC. DELIVERY, NUMBER PLATES, FIRSTREGISTRATION FEE AND A FULL TANK OF FUEL.Mercedes E270 CDi EstateTHE chainsaw cuts through thewood like a hot knife throughbutter and log after log flies intothe trailer. Very quickly, the unit ispiled high with winter fuel for the openfire. The only problem is, will it fit in thecar?Now, had it been the old E ClassMercedes, I would have thought noproblem. The car looked gargantuan andwas certainly one of the biggest estateson the road. If I remember correctly, theboast from the marketing people was thatyou could slide a double wardrobe intothe back. But this is the latest model, amuch leaner and meaner looking vehicle,shorter and shapelier, more stylish, butwould it be so accommodating?As the wood is stacked in the back, theload area is certainly a good shape withno intrusion from suspension turrets toget in the way. As the trailer empties, theboot fills and before long the whole loadis transferred into the back. The new EClass Estate may look smaller, but itisn’t. Incredibly, it is larger still; 11mmlonger, 10mm wider and the cavernousboot will hold an extra 50 litres, 650 intotal, with the back seats still in place.When the load bay is empty, there is theoption of pop-up rear facing seats whichmeans the Merc can also carry seven incomplete comfort.That much wood could have upset thecar’s handling, of course. But the E Classshrugs off the extra weight thanks toautomatic self-levelling pneumaticsuspension. A button on the centreconsole can also alter the ride fromsuper-comfy softness to mega-taut sportshandling, an excellent feature. You canalso raise the ride height for venturingthrough floods or mild forays off theroad.Given that the Estate is designed to bea load carrier, whether that is logs orpeople, it is amazingly rewarding todrive.The E Class chassis has alwaysperformed better than it ought to. Iremember driving the full range of firebreathingAMG Mercedes and wasshocked to discover that the best by farwas the E55 AMG. The E just feels right;beautifully balanced, taut and together.The Estate drives like a sports car andbeing behind the wheel is pureenjoyment.The engine, on this occasion a 177bhp,five cylinder 2.7 litre turbo diesel, adds tothe experience. It’s hard to believe that adiesel can sound, feel and perform sowell. Five cylinders gives it a wonderfuloff-beat note. It pulls like a pit pony fromway down the rev range and offers reallifeperformance, making the E a superbcross country drive.In the safety stakes, few cars even comeclose. Under the sleek new body lies anarray of electronic gizmos to keep the carunder control and stop it skidding. Thebrakes are the first on the market to be“fly-by-wire”, using aircraft technologyto dispense with old-fashioned cables.The result is much shorter brakingdistances, particularly in the wet. Thelights, too, are 21st century and actuallyshine around the corners – don’t ask mehow – just enjoy the night vision theyprovide.The interior blends ultra modern withtraditional Mercedes and is stylish,spacious, comfortable and practical.All this comes at a price, of course, butthe E270CDI Estate appears to weigh inat an affordable £32,045, a reasonableprice tag for the class of car – until yourealise that a lot of the features aren’tstandard and the final bill in thisspecification is £41,460.That said, there is nothing to fault inMercedes’ biggest estate, and in a marketplace full of worthy competitors, itshould help potential buyers see thewood from the trees.Ian Lamming❛Under the sleek newbody lies an array ofelectronic gizmos to keepthe car under control andstop it skiddingA load carrier... of people and logs